19 Family Recipes From Big Martha, Martha's Mother (2024)

Martha's love and mastery of all things food came from a very important person in her life: her mother, Martha Kostyra, also known as "Big Martha." Mrs. Kostyra lived to be 93, and the family matriarch often appeared with her daughter on TV.

The recipes that Martha learned from her mother include traditional Polish dishes like kielbasa, stuffed cabbage, and several different pierogi recipes, both savory and sweet. There are also comfort food classics including roast loin of pork, meatloaf, and stuffed peppers. Big Martha's dessert recipes, from lemon meringue cake to blueberry buckle, are equally mouthwatering.

We're sharing these family recipes so you can make some of Martha's mom's favorite dishes.

01of 19

Country Cheesecake

19 Family Recipes From Big Martha, Martha's Mother (1)

Rather than the usual cream cheese-filling and graham cracker crust, the cheesecake Martha's mom made pairs a filling of tangy farmer cheese and plump golden raisins with a piecrust-like pastry.

View Recipe

02of 19

BIg Martha's Mashed Potatoes

19 Family Recipes From Big Martha, Martha's Mother (2)

Another dish Mrs. Kostyra was renowned for was her mashed potatoes. What makes them so rich and delicious? The secret ingredient is cream cheese, but they also contain butter, cream, and milk.

View Recipe

03of 19

Grandma's Mac and Cheese

19 Family Recipes From Big Martha, Martha's Mother (3)

Martha's grandmother made mac and cheese with some unusual ingredients such tomato soup and sour cream. When Mrs. Kostyra and Martha made the recipe, they tweaked it slightly to use more traditional ingredients such as elbow macaroni and two cheeses.

View Recipe

04of 19

Stollen Wreath Bread

19 Family Recipes From Big Martha, Martha's Mother (4)

Mrs. Kostyra's stollen was a Christmas treat everyone, including Martha, looked forward to. It's a sweet, rich yeast dough accented with dried fruits and nuts, shaped into a wreath, and baked until golden brown.

View Recipe

05of 19

Mrs. Kostyra's Basic Pierogi

19 Family Recipes From Big Martha, Martha's Mother (5)

Pierogi are an incredibly versatile food. They are also Martha's favorite comfort food. She always uses her mother's recipes, like this one, when she makes pierogi.

Get Mrs. Kostyra's Basic Pierogi Recipe

06of 19

Mrs. Kostyra's Blueberry Buckle

19 Family Recipes From Big Martha, Martha's Mother (6)

This streusel-topped, fruit-filled dessert is a crowd pleaser, perfect for a family celebration.

View Recipe

07of 19

Mrs. Kostyra's Borscht

19 Family Recipes From Big Martha, Martha's Mother (7)

Packed with beets, mushrooms, and fresh herbs, Mrs. Kostyra's borscht is guaranteed to warm your heart.

View Recipe

08of 19

Mrs. Kostyra's Meatloaf

19 Family Recipes From Big Martha, Martha's Mother (8)

Although many meatloaf recipes use just beef, adding veal and pork produces a more tender, juicier loaf. Mrs. Kostyra's recipe calls for an ample amount of breadcrumbs to give the meatloaf its distinctive texture and prevent it from becoming too dense.

View Recipe

09of 19

Mrs. Kostyra's Meringue-Topped Rice Pudding

19 Family Recipes From Big Martha, Martha's Mother (9)

The key to good rice pudding is its texture. For the best result, cook it slowly—and top the pudding with an airy crown of meringue, like Mrs. Kostyra did!

View Recipe

10of 19

Pierogies with Cabbage Filling and Clarified Butter

19 Family Recipes From Big Martha, Martha's Mother (10)

Follow Martha's recipe for making pierogi just like her mom did. Adding cream cheese to the filling slightly softens the cabbage and gives each bite a tender crunch.

View Recipe

11of 19

Mrs. Kostyra's Stuffed Peppers

19 Family Recipes From Big Martha, Martha's Mother (11)

Choose firm, plump peppers with a glossy surface, and avoid blemishes or soft spots for Mrs. Kostyra's Stuffed Peppers. Substitute green peppers for the yellow ones in this recipe if you prefer more bite.

View Recipe

12of 19

Mrs. Kostyra's Kielbasa

19 Family Recipes From Big Martha, Martha's Mother (12)

Sharing her special way of cooking kielbasa, which ensures a crispy skin, Mrs. Kostyra noted it is important to pierce the sausage casing so that it doesn't crack while cooking.

View Recipe

13of 19

Mrs. Kostyra's Perfect White Cake

19 Family Recipes From Big Martha, Martha's Mother (13)

Topped with Italian meringue buttercream, Mrs. Kostyra's white cake is a sweet ending for any birthday or celebration.

View Recipe

14of 19

Mrs. Kostyra's Stuffed Cabbage

19 Family Recipes From Big Martha, Martha's Mother (14)

When Martha was growing up in Nutley, N.J., her grandmother often made a Polish version of stuffed cabbage leaves, called golabki. The filling is a simple one—rice and meat with onions, garlic, celery, cloves, and green apple—but the dish is as tasty as it is comforting.

View Recipe

15of 19

Pierogi with Potato Filling and Brown Butter

19 Family Recipes From Big Martha, Martha's Mother (15)

Make hearty potato pierogi creamy with the natural buttery flavor of Yukon Golds and a drizzle of nutty brown butter.

View Recipe

16of 19

Mrs. Kostyra's Spice Cupcakes

19 Family Recipes From Big Martha, Martha's Mother (16)

These spiced cupcakes are adapted from a recipe by Mrs. Kostyra, who was an avid baker. They're topped with topped with an orange glaze.

View Recipe

17of 19

Mrs. Kostyra's Lemon Meringue Cake

19 Family Recipes From Big Martha, Martha's Mother (17)

This light, airy cake is the perfect finish to any meal.

View Recipe

18of 19

Mrs. Kostyra's Roast Loin of Pork

19 Family Recipes From Big Martha, Martha's Mother (18)

This savory pork dish was one of Mrs. Kostyra's favorite recipes to prepare—and has been one of Martha's favorites since childhood.

View Recipe

19of 19

Pierogi with Italian Plum Filling and Spiced Sour Cream

19 Family Recipes From Big Martha, Martha's Mother (19)

Martha and her mother, Big Martha, often made pierogi together. For this recipe, be sure to use seasonal fruit, such as plump blueberries or Italian plums.

View Recipe